Classic battle on Monday ballot

Sterling voters have no excuses.

Without competitive races for selectman in Holden, Paxton and Princeton, perhaps it’s understandable that some — in Paxton’s case, almost all — residents of those towns stayed home on election day, May 10. The only attractions on the ballot in those towns were a race for School Committee in Holden and for Princeton Planning Board.

Not so in Sterling next Monday, May 24, where voters face a clear choice between challengers and incumbents on the Light Board, DPW Board and on the Board of Selectmen.

On one side, candidates who believe the current administration of the town is doing a good job and spending taxpayers’ and ratepayers’ money wisely. On the other side, candidates who see waste, inefficiency and unprofessionalism in the halls of government. It’s up to all Sterling voters to decide which side speaks for them.

The stakes are high: the decisions voters make on Monday will have direct impacts on their pocketbooks, in the form of higher or lower property taxes, electric rates and water rates, and better or poorer customer service at Town Hall and the municipal utilities, probably before the next three-year term is done.

Voters know this, and there seems to be more pre-election buzz in Sterling than in the other four towns, even Rutland, which saw several contested races earlier this month (The Landmark, for instance, received several letters to the editor about the election this week — letters we did not print because of our longstanding policy against endorsements in the issue immediately before the election.). Sterling, so far, has seen a spirited and engaging town campaign.

All that’s required for a successful conclusion is your honest opinion and five minutes of your time on Monday.